Sections

Wrestlers to face conference's best

`Tis a weekend to try a team's mettle.

The Michigan wrestling team heads into the next-to-last weekend of regular-season competition facing two highly ranked opponents.

The No. 15 Wolverines (3-2-1 Big Ten, 8-5-1 overall) welcome the 11th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers (3-2, 10-2) to Cliff Keen Arena tomorrow night before traveling to Minneapolis to face the No. 7 Golden Gophers (9-6-1, 1-3).

The weekend promises to put Michigan's stamina and preparation to the test, not to mention its heart. The Wolverines are on a two-meet win streak and have won three of their last five.

The marquee matchup in both meets will certainly be the final contest -- the heavyweights.

Wolverine sophomore Airron Richardson heads into the meets ranked seventh in the nation and tied for third in the Big Ten. The two men in his way this weekend, however, just happen to be the same two who are ranked ahead of him in the conference.

Badger senior Jeff Walter, No. 4 in the nation and second in the league, is first on Richardson's docket. This season, dual-meet outcomes have often hinged on the heavyweight bout, and Michigan coach Dale Bahr does not anticipate this one being otherwise.

"We may have to beat Walter (to win the meet)," Bahr said, "so it might come down to Airron's match again."

In Minnesota's Billy Pierce, Richardson will face his toughest challenge this season. Pierce is the top-ranked heavyweight in the country and is undefeated in conference this year.

Walter and Pierce are just two of a total of seven top-10 opponents the Wolverines will face. Wisconsin brings No. 4 Eric Jetton at 126 pounds, No. 6 Kevin Wilmot at 167 pounds and No. 7 Aaron Stark at 190 pounds, in addition to Walter. For its part, Minnesota's lineup features seventh-ranked Jason Davids at 142 pounds and eighth-ranked Gerald Carr at 167, plus Pierce.

As usual, Michigan's lower weight classes are a question mark, with the first few matches being critical if the Wolverines aren't to be in a position where they are forced to win -- and win big -- in the second half of the meets.

Bahr is hoping Wolverine freshman Chris Viola, at 118 pounds, will be able to build on his strong showing Sunday against Ohio State, citing Viola's weight class as one of a handful that Michigan must put into the win column against the Badgers.

The sophomore tandem of Bill Lacure at 150 pounds and Jeff Catrabone at 158 pounds must perform at its usual high level in both meets, Bahr said. Catrabone is a perfect 14-0 in dual meets this season, and both he and Lacure are in the top 10 in their respective weight classes. Catrabone is ranked fifth and Lacure ninth.

Wolverine senior Jesse Rawls Jr., ranked fourth, is also being looked to for a `W' in both meets.

"Jesse, our captain, has to come through for us," Bahr said.

Bahr also discounted any ill effects travel might have on the team, as far as the outcome of the meets.

The coach said the miracle of flight will allow the team to arrive in the Twin Cities a day before the match, leaving time to recover from Friday's match and prepare for Sunday's.

"I know (traveling) is more relaxing than practicing," he said. "We've been going through some pretty intense practices."

Bahr said some of the Wolverines have even commented that they were looking forward to their matches, figuring they would have an easier time hitting the mats in competition than running, lifting and wrestling in their facilities in the bowels of Crisler Arena.

"We only go for seven minutes in matches, but you go two hours in practice, you're running, you're lifting and everything else. So you look forward to competition."